The Miami Heat are almost done on the NBA Summer League circuit and the work of continuing to flesh out the regular season roster must be done. With the signing of Udonis Haslem made official, the Miami Heat can now proceed with the building out of their developmental pipeline as well.
While the coveted two-way slots and G-League roster are concerns that will have to be addressed, they also have some roster concerns… or players that are drawing the ire of Miami Heat faithful. When it comes to KZ Okpala, their are some mixed feelings, but the overwhelming majority seems to think he isn’t it.
Here’s what Miami Heat Summer League coach, Malik Allen, had to say on the long and athletic Okpala. It comes via the reporting of Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
"“I think just offensively, he’s trying to do the right things,” Allen said. “Like the first game, I think he was trying to do a little too much. This game when he got his touches, he was trying to do the right thing. It’s a little bit different. His mind just seems like it’s moving very, very fast right now and the game is very fast because he’s trying to do everything that we’re asking him to do. That’s a credit to him. It’s not like we’re sitting here saying, ‘You’re shooting too much,’ or anything like that. I think he’s just pressing and trying to do the right thing too much instead of relaxing and letting the game come to him a little bit.”"
Well, that’s what he thinks about Okpala. Here’s what some of those around the All U Can Heat roster think on the situation, in the latest Miami Heat Roundtable.
Miami Heat: To KZ or Not to KZ Okpala… That’s the Question – Rich’s Take
To never KZ is the answer.
Rich Nurse’s Take (@followthepen)
When you think of the Justise Winslow pipe dream, the KZ Okpala fantasy could be filed as the not so silent partner. With the potential to be worse, according to which angle it’s viewed from.
Both men were touted above their talent. Winslow’s defensive skills were seen on the national stage in college, but so were the offensive deficiencies that made Coach Krzyzewski park him below the basket in the National Championship game.
Okpala came in lesser known to the masses, but the Miami Heat’s tendency for finding untapped gems gave hope. To the point where narratives were made without even seeing him play in the G-League.
Winslow syndrome, without the film.
What you do see with the film is a player with good defensive instincts. The problem is, the Heat are already a team of defenders—on paper.
None of which Okpala deserves court time over. If anything, Miami could use someone who also comes with a little offensive punch.
AllUCanHeat’s Jack Simone already gave the numbers, so let us skip those. Okpala is often offensively uncoordinated and not confident in his body or its perceived abilities.
Where we differ is that a better use for his spot would be for a contributor who may shake loose during the season. Not for anyone on the summer league roster.
That is what the two-way contracts and call-ups are for. The Heat already have seven players, 27-years-old or younger.
And Nine once they add the two-way contracts. The last thing a team needs when they have championship aspirations is another unproven player—young or old—on a standard contract.
As a matter of fact, they should subtract one. Sorry KZ.
Miami Heat: To KZ or Not to KZ Okpala… That’s the Question – Jack’s Take
Thus far during his time with the Miami Heat, KZ Okpala has done nothing but disappoint. He was only a second-round draft pick, but the Heat gave up three future seconds in order to select him.
Jack’s Take (@JackSimoneNBA)
Okpala came out of college with the potential to be a solid 3&D player, but so far, can’t seem to figure things out on offense. He has been completely unable to shoot efficiently.
Struggling at the NBA level is one thing, but Okpala has even struggled thus far throughout Summer League. At the time of writing this, the Miami Heat have played two games with Okpala active, and he has played poorly in each of them.
He is shooting below 30% from the field and only 20% from three-point range. Realistically, there are multiple players on Miami’s Summer League roster who would make the team over him if he didn’t have a guaranteed roster spot.
The Okpala Experiment should be over as soon as possible. He was a decent prospect, but at this point, it’s looking like he simply won’t pan out.
Miami Heat: To KZ or Not to KZ Okpala… That’s the Question – Rob’s Take
Through the Miami Heat’s first three Summer League contests, KZ Okpala has definitely not stood out or met expectations for Assistant Coach Malik Allen and crew.
Rob’s Take (@BleedGreene34)
When the 2019 second-round pick inked a multi-year deal with Miami after being dealt from Phoenix shortly after the draft, Okpala was bouncing back and forth from the Heat to their G-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Two years later, his job in Miami appears to be in jeopardy.
Starting all three games for Miami in Las Vegas, Okpala has struggled, scoring only 20 points with a horrendous shooting percentage of 22.2 from the field and 16.7 percent from distance. Only sinking two threes thus far, the 22-year-old out of Stanford has averaged 6.6 points per game, seven rebounds, two turnovers, and not to mention, an ugly 60 percent from the free-throw line.
Of course, Okpala’s abilities to be active in the paint on either side of the ball with his energy, to help create spacing in the half-court for others, and helping create plays around the basket can be beneficial in Spoelstra’s offense, especially with Dewayne Dedmon as the backup rim protector, but there is still no room.
Not only were the Heat arguably the biggest winners in free agency, with acquisitions such as the premeditated Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade, while also signing fitting names such as P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris, they’ve also had some unusual faces performing well in Las Vegas.
Bottom roster guys such as Max Strus, Omer Yurtseven and Marcus Garrett have each shown their capabilities of knocking down huge shots, making momentum swinging plays, and while also highly contributing on the defensive end.
With what is now one of the deepest teams in the East and having already been influenced by enough prospects, it won’t hurt Miami if Okpala is no longer on the roster moving forward after his Summer League performances.
Miami Heat: To KZ or Not to KZ Okpala… That’s the Question – Isiah’s Take
From a spectator’s view, the answer is yes, get rid of him. However, it’s harsh for someone to believe Okpala isn’t worthy of holding a roster spot with Miami — just because he hasn’t quite reached those lofty expectations.
Isiah’s Take (@isiah_nba)
We’ve gotta remember Okpala is 22 and was a mid second-round selection in 2019. While Miami ultimately holds the keys to KZ’s future, they do need to address how he should be utilized going forward.
To go along with the NBA-level physicals, we’ve seen flashes of a quality defender, as well as a capable perimeter shooter. With a few rough offensive stretches and mental lapses early in his career, most recently in the Summer League, I believe most of Okpala’s struggles are mental and that light switch can flip at any point.
But… if Miami believes otherwise, they need to consider moving him for a second-rounder — which is a small step further in accumulating draft capital, but also an opportunity for KZ to get extended run elsewhere.
Miami Heat: To KZ or Not to KZ Okpala… That’s the Question – Kenneth’s Take
Kenneth’s Take
It’s actually fairly simple for me. Of course you keep him.
To Rich’s point, yes, they are a team of defenders already. But that’s because that’s a skill that they greatly value, so why not have another of the most uniquely physically gifted, one that has already shown the penchant to be elite in that area, one that will cost mere pennies, and not to mention, one that just came off of an impressive showing in the Olympics before this Summer League debacle, that featured a locking up of Damian Lillard at times.
Or have we all forgotten that though? To some of the other points made here, specifically on his Summer League performances.
For all of the hoopla surrounding his lack of offensive prowess, there is also an ignoring of the fact that he is the anchor of their defense, from the top of the perimeter. He allows everything to flow, it seems, as he is the guy switching onto every assignment out top, allowing the other guards to float and have it easy… or to funnel it to The Big Yurt, Omer Yurtseven, who’s no defensive ace but is having a Summer League Block Party.
That’s not ignoring the offense ineptitude either, as he does have to improve. As noted by Coach Allen, he was, at least, shooting his shots early on, as that’s the only way to get better.
He’s working on his flaws, which says a whole heck of a lot about a guy who is surely seeing all that’s being said about him. Even still though and though the logic might say he’s supposed to look better against lesser competition in the Summer League, a multiple and do-everything guy like KZ often shines more when playing with better players around him, as that stands a better chance to shine a light on the utility stuff that he does.
That means that he’s always going to do the little things, grab the loose ball, make a key steal or deflection, snatch a huge offensive board… but the lesser quality teammate around him, the less likely it is that they do something good with his effort and thus, making him look good or bad. His teammates in this Summer League are balling, so that isn’t an absolute analysis of their talent, as much as it is a relative analysis of KZ being able to fulfill a role.
Speaking of that though and as far as the Heat’s roster stands, their is a role for KZ. As a versatile defender, capable of spending minutes on postisions 1-5 to save fouls, minutes, or to simply be a pest, he has a role.
With his physical gifts, multiple skill-set, and his hunger to work hard, give max effort, and do the little things, you can afford to wait a little longer on his offense. The Miami Heat probably will too.
They like players like KZ and because of all that other stuff he does (which they surely see… even if the group-think crowd doesn’t), he’ll have the leeway to keep trying to blossom.
They are varying opinions, but they are all valid. Only time will tell about the fate of KZ Okpala though.
These have been our takes on the topic here at AUCH, in the latest Miami Heat Roundtable.